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Brain Failure / Big D and the Kids Table

Beijing to Boston
2007
Bad News

Brain Failure / Big D and the Kids Table - Beijing to Boston (Cover Artwork)

Review by: GlassPipeMurder
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Published on April 3rd 2007

Being released only a month before Big D and the Kids Table’s highly anticipated full-length Strictly Rude, it seems as if their split with Brain Failure, Beijing to Boston, has been temporarily pushed aside to allow the glory of Strictly Rude to resonate. However, overlooking Beijing to Boston would be to miss out on even more quality music from Big D and the Kids Table and relative newcomers to the U.S. punk scene, Brain Failure.

The first six songs of the album come from China’s finest, Brain Failure. Now, I’ve been to China (Beijing specifically), and out of the millions of people covering the city streets, I saw exactly zero punks, so for them to exist and thrive is a feat in itself. Furthermore, for a couple punks to learn a decent amount of English so they could sing and tour in the United States is also quite admirable. Brain Failure’s half starts out with “Coming Down to Beijing,” a duplicate of the song off their Turn on the Distortion album, right? But wait, whose voice is that coming over the speakers? That’s right, it’s Dicky Barrett, beloved vocalist of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones! “Coming Down to Beijing” is without a doubt the best song on Brain Failure's half, showcasing their rough pop-punk styles with a massive chorus and sparring vocals between lead singer Xiao Rong and Barrett. “Time to Go” is a fierce hybrid of street punk and hardcore that packs a punch at just a minute and twenty-five seconds. With “Fall in Love 2008,” the band demonstrates their ska abilities as Rong sings a relaxed melody in both Mandarin and English. The band's only downfall is the repetitive “You’re Gonna Die,” which repeats the line "You’re gonna die, it’s a suicide" way more than anyone needs to hear it. Overall, Brain Failure’s half is an appropriate introduction to a band that we’ll probably be hearing of much more in the future.

Big D and the Kids Table’s half starts off with “Faded,” a three and a half minute song that begins with over a minute and a half of passive dub before tearing into a scathing admonition of everything that’s wrong with the scene: "So how the fuck did we even get on this show? / Some promoter must have had to fit a stylistic status quo / […] / I can’t feel my hands / I’m too drunk to find my mind / I don’t want to talk to some screamo kid about how much he digs Sublime / I’m dying in a club that’s pumping ACME through its P.A. / Forever hated by this industry but still finding a way on stage." The best song is the overtly good-natured tribute to their hometown, “I’m Yours Boston,” which also marks the first time the band breaks out into more of a ska sound, as the first two songs were speedy punk rock with horns. “Running Young” is the first Big D and the Kids Table song I can recall that doesn’t have horns, and demonstrates that the band is quite capable of writing quality songs using the short, fast, and loud formula. After “Running Young” is “Digging in Your Nails,” which sounds much like their How It Goes material, more specifically sounding a great deal like the song “You’re Me Now.” At nearly five minutes long, the trad-ska “Ruin You” brings Big D’s half to an end with somber lyrics about the consequences of living as a touring musician.

You simply can‘t go wrong with Beijing to Boston. The first half serves as a great introduction to Brain Failure, the band credited with founding the punk scene in China and now making inroads in the United States and across the world. In the second half, Big D and the Kids Table demonstrate why they are one of the biggest bands in ska-punk, with a terrific set of songs that are a must for any Big D fan.

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Posted by ilikepunkrock on 2007-04-05 17:06:55

Yea there is only 3 new Brain Failure songs on the album I think but "Turn on the Distortion" did not really get distributed in the US so it is good for people who are new to the band.

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 1:11 PM (EDT)

"Anybody who does not like Brain Failure is an idiot, yea I said it, wanna fight about it."

Agree 100%

Only heard 1 new song online from Brain Failure, but after reading this reveiw, 2 songs are off their first album?!?!? kinda blows. No score cuz i haven't listend to it yet

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at 9:24 PM (EDT)

Anybody who does not like Brain Failure is an idiot, yea I said it, wanna fight about it.

Posted by tommytumult on 2007-04-04 12:36:32
My Score:

I'm quite happy I purchased this on vinyl. I've only listened to the big d side a couple times because I hate it so much. I absolutely loathe the last song on the big d side, "ruin you". The best part about the vinyl is that I can listen to the brain failure side and, when it's done, restart the record, completely ignoring what's on the flip side. The crazy awesome colored vinyl doesn't hurt either.

4 stars for brain failure
1/2 star for big d

Posted by kingofsuck on 2007-04-04 04:45:51
My Score:

Two and a half stars. Yep.

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2007-04-04 01:24:35

boston was pretty awesome when i visited. if it wasnt for the whole athf debacle, i would say its one of the best cities eva

- jones the bones

Posted by klonny on 2007-04-04 01:10:31

I'm listening to the punknews stream, however, and I'm REALLY liking this Brain Failure stuff.

Posted by klonny on 2007-04-04 01:07:26

I have to agree with the guy below...I wonder if Boston is really THAT great. But honestly, "I'm Yours Boston" is a horrible song in every aspect. When I heard it, I thought it was a joke since it was so terrible, considering I liked How It Goes and Strictly Rude. If its not, then...Ow.

I haven't heard the Brain Failure part of the split, but the Big D part? Although I haven't heard Salem Girls, this is the only Big D record I give a thumbs down.

Posted by Hey_Asshole on 2007-04-04 00:51:08
My Score:

why does every band from boston sing about how fucking great boston is? it is pretty retarded.

this is a good record though

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2007-04-03 23:49:14

big d trying to be nofx is not for me

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 10:37 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Love every Big D cd except this one...for some reason there is just something missing for me

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 10:23 PM (EDT)

Horns are poorly mixed in the record, but they suck anyway. Would sound even worse if they were at the "How It Goes" volume.

I miss you, Chris Bush. Please rejoin the band and write some good hornlines for this band. Sounds like they need you.

*I haven't heard Strictly Rude yet*

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 10:13 PM (EDT)
My Score:

brain failure carry this release. but Big D made up for this with Strictly Rude

Posted by misterpink on 2007-04-03 20:46:15

I think these are the worst songs Big D has ever recorded.

Posted by MikeStupid on 2007-04-03 20:05:00
My Score:

This, Strictly Rude and their performance last Thursday have turned Big D & The Kids Table into one of my favorite bands. "Digging In Your Nails" kicks ass.

Posted by maverick on 2007-04-03 19:20:56
My Score:

I agree with a lot of people, the horns are way too weak/thin in the mix. It definitely needs some more punch.

I'm not as stoked on these songs as I am on Strictly Rude, but I still like it.

Oh, there's Brain Failure songs on here? Yeah, not gonna listen to those.

-Scott

Posted by ilikepunkrock on 2007-04-03 17:27:11

The Good Charlotte review has a 1/2 star, and even though it is probably horrible it probably doesn't deserve that.

Posted by jt on 2007-04-03 17:19:12
My Score:

brain faliure kicks, and big d fucking pawns! i like how big d did some psycho ska fast pop punk stuff on the split (which reminds me of their older stuff), and experimental shit on Strictly rude. both are must buy cd's

Posted by FresnoSka on 2007-04-03 17:17:05

Not that I care that much, but why is the Good Charlotte review gone? I was in the mood for some hilarity...

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 4:53 PM (EDT)

fuck big d and their elitist outlook on the scene they are a part of. they think they're soo much better than everyone else and have it ohhhh so hard because they have to play ska and they are supposed to be some sort of saviors to punk that we should worship. fuck their cute little "ska outfits" on stage too.

Posted by ilikepunkrock on 2007-04-03 14:45:33
My Score:

"Living in the City" is the best song on this album. The song just has a feeling about it that is awesome. The whole turn on the distortion CD is rad.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 2:42 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Didn't much like the Brain Failure side, it wasn't bad though.

But Faded and Taking Back The Rhythm were amazing songs, and the rest of Big D's stuff on split just does not compare to that at all

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 2:37 PM (EDT)
My Score:

score is for brain failures half, great songs and to have dicky singing again sounds sweet, plus his parts remind us all of why he and the bosstones need to put out some new music. Its like hearing an old friend, great stuff. Big D? , not so good.-oldpunker-

Posted by FresnoSka on 2007-04-03 14:20:54

I agree, I'm a huge Big D fan. But the horns are pushed way into the background making the songs sound thin.

Posted by jacknife737 on 2007-04-03 13:25:10

Great disk, and it was even better to hear dicky sing again.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 1:22 PM (EDT)
My Score:

I really don't like the way the horns sound on this one. Its too bad, because the songs are awesome! (except for I'm Yours Boston, which is also too bad because I'm from Boston).